Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan

This news article was published under
the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Mr Irfan Siddiq OBE has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to Azerbaijan.

Irfan Siddiq

He will succeed Mr Peter Bateman, who has retired from the Diplomatic Service. Mr Siddiq will take up his appointment during August 2013.

Mr Siddiq joined the FCO in 1998 and has a wide range of overseas experience in India, Egypt, the United States, Syria and Iraq. Mr Siddiq has also served as Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary, working with both Jack Straw and Margaret Beckett. His most recent position was leading the FCO’s response to the Arab Spring as Head of the Arab Partnership Department.

On his appointment as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mr Siddiq has said:

I’m delighted to be appointed British Ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a fascinating country. It has a rich cultural heritage, a dynamic economy and is of major strategic importance. I’m looking forward to living and working in Azerbaijan, getting to know Azerbaijan and its people and further developing UK-Azerbaijan relations to best promote UK interests and values.